Spring sports to start next week

This week's weather wouldn't indicate it, but spring sports are just around the corner for Baldwin High School teams.

BHS athletes spent this week enjoying their spring break in the rain and snow. But competition starts for the Bulldogs next week with softball and baseball kicking off Tuesday.

"It's not the ideal situation with spring break being this week," softball coach Ginny Honomichl said. "We will have one practice next week before our first game. The weather hasn't helped any with optional practices. But it's not the end of the season, it's just the beginning."

This year's softball team is made up of 24 girls, eight of which are upper classmen. Katie Krysztof if the lone senior for the Bulldogs.

Honomichl said she is not sure if the youth of the team will affect it, because the Frontier League has changed this year.

"We are pretty young, but it's difficult to tell if that will hurt us when you add three schools to the league," Honomichl said. "We just need to take care of ourselves. We definitely have potential."

The softball team first takes the field at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at home.

The BHS track teams are hoping to make some noise with different rosters this season. The girls team lost some talented seniors last year, including two-time state gold medalist Rachel Miles and distance runner Erica Ogle.

"We lost a variety pack last year," coach Ted Zuzzio said. "We sure lost some studs, but I still think we are going to be competitive."

Being competitive is something Zuzzio is expecting from this team of 32 girls. He believes the team is going to compete hard every meet.

"We'd like to try and win every meet," Zuzzio said. "We always want to finish our season at state also. That's the ultimate goal."

The Bulldogs are the three-time defending Frontier League champs, but Zuzzio believes the league is anybody's to win this year.

"League is wide open this year," Zuzzio said. "We just hope to be right there in it. We will compete."

The boys track program hasn't quite had the same success the last couple years, but is hoping to improve with a large team this year. The Bulldogs have 37 boys on the roster, many of who are new to the team.

Coach Mike Spielman believes the newcomers will really help the team.

"We've really stepped up in the sprints and jumps," Spielman said. "We've got some kids that are really going to help us in those events and make our relays a lot stronger."

Spielman said the team has a few goals on the season.

"We want to try and improve every day," Spielman said. "We want to win league or be one of the top teams and qualify as many for state as we can."

The Bulldogs will have to make up for injuries in the throwing events. Seniors Kyle Ruona and Luke Halford will be out with knee and shoulder injuries.

"I think we're going to have to work on our throwers," Spielman said. "We will be pretty balanced in all the other races on the track."

Both track teams start its seasons with the Baldwin Invitational on April 1.

The BHS tennis squad has 10 boys out this spring. Senior Chris Irick is the only returner who went to state last year.

Coach Troy Webb said practice is going good thus far.

"It's nice because we've got a lot of returning guys," Webb said. "I'm seeing pretty good stuff from our young kids. We want to be in the top three in our tournaments and qualify at least four to state."

The Bulldogs first meet will be the Mill Valley Invitational on Wednesday.

The BHS golf team has a large number of athletes out this spring. Nearly 30 golfers are playing for BHS this year. Senior Derek Couch was the lone golfer who went to state last year.

The golf team begins action with the Gardner Invitational on April 4.

Joe Serna is starting his first year as head coach for the BHS baseball team this year. The Bulldogs get started at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday in Ottawa.